Devices and methods for reducing scar tissue formation

Abstract

Disclosed is a cytostatic drug attached to a sterile sheet that is designed to be placed between internal body tissues to prevent the formation of post-operative adhesions, which adhesions are really scar tissue formation. This sheet onto or into which the drug is placed may be either a permanent implant or it may be biodegradable. By impregnating an existing product such as the Johnson & Johnson SURGICEL™ absorbable hemostat gauze-like sheet with an anti-proliferative drug such as sirolimus, the biodegradable, drug impregnated mesh would act as a barrier to cell proliferation and hence be a deterrent to the formation of adhesions or scar tissue. Another embodiment of this invention is a cytostatic drug attached to a sheet that is placed at the site of an anastamosis to decrease scar tissue formation from within the vessel at the site of the anastomosis.

Description

FIELD OF USE [0001] This invention is in the field of devices and methods used to prevent the formation of scar tissue that often occurs as a result of a surgical procedure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Post-operative scar tissue formation, adhesions and blood vessel narrowing are major problems following abdominal, neurological, vascular or other types of surgery. For example, narrowing of a blood vessel at the site of an anastamosis is often caused by the unwanted proliferation of scar tissue at that location. [0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 772,693 by R. E. Fischell, et al, filed on Jan. 1, 2001 describes various means and methods to reduce scar tissue formation resulting from a surgical procedure. However, this patent application does not describe a cytostatic anti-proliferative surgical wrap that is placed around some human tissue where there is a risk of formation of scar tissue. Although several companies have developed products (such as sheets of biodegradab...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] One embodiment of this invention is a device consisting of cytostatic anti-proliferative drug impregnated into, coated onto or placed onto a material sheet or mesh designed to be placed generally around human tissue that has been surgically joined or surgically treated; the goal being the prevention of formation of excess post-operative scar tissue. A drug that is impregnated into a suture or gauze-like material or sheet or coated onto the material or joined to the material by adhesion and/or capillary action is defined herein as a drug “attached” to a suture or mesh or

Problems solved by technology

Post-operative scar tissue formation, adhesions and blood vessel narrowing are major problems following abdominal, neurological, vascular or other types of surgery.

For example, narrowing of a blood vessel at the site of an anastamosis is often caused by the unwanted proliferation of scar tissue at that location.

However, this patent application does not describe a cytostatic anti-proliferative surgical wrap that is placed around some human tissue where there is a risk of formation of scar tissue.

Although several companies have developed products (such as sheets of biodegradable mesh, gels, foams and barrier membranes of various materials) that can be placed between these structures to reduce the tissue growth, none are entirely effective.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,286 describes the use of a be

Images